Introduction to The River of the West

Joe Meek's Years in the Rocky Mountains

Preface

This is the story of Joe Meek and his years as a mountainman. Meek came
west in 1828 as an
employee of the Rocky Mountain Fur Company, and spent the next twelve years engaged in the
fur
trade. He worked for the various fur companies and later became a free trapper. He often
traveled
with Bridger's brigade, and participated many of the important events of the period.

In the later years of his life, he told his story to Oregon historian Frances Fuller Victor,
who recorded the narrative we see here. Meek had a vivid memory of his years in the
mountains, and he enlivened the account with many entertaining anecdotes of mountainman life.

This on-line book consists of the first twenty-one chapters of the
original edition as published
in 1870 by Mrs. Victor.
The remaining chapters of the original edition deal with Meek's second career as an
Oregon settler, after retiring from his life as a mountainman. While this material
is a useful source for the history of settlement in Oregon, it is beyond the scope of
this electronic fur-trade library, and is not included here.

Bibliographical Information

Originally published as:
Victor, Mrs. Frances A. Fuller. The River of the West. Hartford,
Connecticut and Toledo, Ohio: R. W. Bliss and Co., 1870.

A recent edition, in 2 volumes with Introduction and notes by Winfred Blevins,
was published by Mountain Press Publishing Co., Missoula, MT, 1983. It is
currently in print, by Tamarak Books.

Links to the Text

View book on-line

Astoria--Fort Vancouver--Its isolated Position--Precautions
against Indians--The Hudson's Bay Company--Its Policy and
Intercourse with the Indians--The Arrival of the "Brigade" --
their Yearly Arrivals--Punishment of Indian Offenders--Indian
Strategy--A Hero--The American Fur Companies--Their Dealings
with the Indians--Ashley's Expeditions to Green River--Attack
on Smith's Party--Wyeth's Expeditions--Fort Hall--Decline of
the Fur Trade--Causes of the Indians' Hostility--Dangers
attending the Trapper's Life

The Camp in Motion--A Trapping Expedition--Opposition to the
Hudson's Bay Company--Beautiful Scenery--The Lost Leader
Found--Rejoicings in Camp--The "Luck" of the Trappers--
Conference of Leaders--The "Devil's Own"--Blackfoot
Character--Account of the Tribes

How Beaver are Taken--Beaver Dams--Formation of Meadows--Beaver
Lodges--"Bachelors"--Trapping in Winter--"Up to Trap"--
Blackfeet on the Trail--On Guard--The Trapper's Ruse--A
disappointed Bear--A Fight with Blackfeet--" Out of Luck
--Alone in the Mountains--Splendid Views--A Miserable Night--The
last Luxury of Life-- The Awfulness of Solitude--A Singular
Discovery--A Hell on Earth--A Joyful Recognition--Hard Times in
Camp--The Negro's Porcupine--Craig's Rabbit--Deep Snows--What
the Scout saw--Bighorn River--"Colter's Hell"--An Alarm--Arrival
at Wind River--Christmas

Removal to Powder River--A Trapper's Paradise - The
Transformation in the Wilderness--The Encampment by
Night--Meek takes to Study-- On the Move--Loss of Horses and
Traps--Robbed and Insulted by a Bear--Crossing the
Yellowstone--A Novel Ferriage--Annoyance from Blackfeet--A
Cache Opened--A Comrade Killed--Rude Burial Service--Return to
Rendezvous--Gay Times--The old Partners take Leave

Grizzly Bears--An Adventure with a Grizzly--The Three "Bares"--
The Mountain-Man's Manners--Joking the Leaders--The Irishman
and the Booshway--How Sublette climbed a Tree and escaped a
Bear-- Rival Trappers--Whisky as a Strong Card--Ogden's Indian
Wife-- Her Courage and Escape--Winter Quarters--Crow Horse-Thieves-- An Expedition on
Foot--Night Attack on the Indian
Fort-- Fitzpatrick Missing--Destitution in Camp--A "Medicine-Man" consulted -- "Making
Medicine"--A Vision Obtained --
Fitzpatrick Found--Death of Smith--An Expedition on Snow-Shoes

Annoying Competition--The Chief's Daughter--Sublette Wounded--
Forty Days of Isolation--Sublette and Meek captured by Snake
Indians--A Solemn Council--Sentence of Death--Hope Deferred--A
Rescue--The "Mountain Lamb"--An Obstinate Rival--Blackfeet
Marauders--Fitzpatrick's Adventures in the Mountains--"When
the Pie was opened the Birds began to Sing"--Rough Sports--A
Man on Fire-- Brigades ready for the Start--Blackfeet
Caravan--Peaceful Overtures-- The Half-Breed's Revenge - A
Battle--Reinforcements--Death of Sinclair--Sublette
Wounded--Greenhorns--A false Alarm--Indian Adroitness--A
Deserted Fort--Incident of the Blackfoot Woman--Murder of a
Party by Blackfeet

The March to the Humboldt--Scarcity of Game--Terrible
Sufferings-- The Horrors of Thirst and Famine--Eating Ants,
Crickets and Mules-- Return to Snake River--A lucky
Discovery--A Trout Supper--The Country of the Diggers--Some
Account of Them--Anecdote of Wyeth and Meek--Comparison of
Indian Tribes--The Blackfeet--The Crows-- The Coast Tribes and
the Mountain Tribes--The Columbia River Indians--Their Habits,
Customs, and Dress--Indian Commerce--The Indians of the
Plains--Their Dress, Manners, and Wealth--The Horses of the
Plains--Language--The Indian's Moral Nature--Hungry and
Hospitable Savage. A Trap set for a Rival--An Ambush--Death of
Vanderburg--Skirmish with Blackfeet--The Woman Interpreter
taken Prisoner--Bravery of her Husband--Happy Finale--Meek
Rescues the "Mountain Lamb"--Intense Cold--Threatened by
Famine--The Den of Grizzlys--Second Daniels

A Visit from Blackfeet - The Green River Rendezvous--A
"Powerful Drunk"--Mad Wolf--A Friendly Warning--A Trip to the
Salt Lake Country--Meek Joins Jo. Walker's California
Expedition--Instinct of the Mule--On the Humboldt River --
Massacre of Diggers at Mary's River--Vain Explorations --
Crossing the Sierra Nevadas--Hardships and Sufferings--The
Sacramento Valley--Delight of the Trappers-- Meeting with
Spanish Soldiers A Parley--Escorted to Monterey--A Hospitable
Reception--The Native Californians--Visit to the Mohave
Village--Meeting with Trapp and Jervais--Infamous Conduct at
the Moquis Village--The Return March

Gossip at Rendezvous--Adventures in the Crow Country --
Fitzpatrick Picked by the Crows and Flies from Them--Honor
among Thieves-- Unfair Treatment of Wyeth--Bonneville Snubbed
at Walla-Walla--He Rejects good Counsel--Wyeth's Threat, and
its Fulfillment--Division of Territory

In the Blackfoot Country--A Visit to Wyeth's Trappers--Sorry
Experiences--Condolence and its Effect--The Visitors become
Defenders--A Battle with Fire and Sword--Fighting for Life--The
Trappers' Victory--A Trapping Excursion--Meek Plays a Trick
and has one Played on Him--A Run to Camp--Taking up Traps--A
Blackfoot Ambush--A Running Fire--A lucky Escape--W inter Camp
on the Yellowstone--Interpretation of a Dream--A Buffalo Hunt
and a Blackfoot Surprise--Meek's Mule Story

Setting up as a Family Man--First Love--Cut out by the
Booshway-- Reward of Constancy--Beauty of Umentucken--Her
Dress, Her Horse and Equipments--Anecdotes of the Mountain
Lamb--Her Quarrel with The Trapper--Capture by Crows--Her
Rescue--Meek Avenges an Insult--A Row in Camp--The Female
Element--Death of Umentucken

Visitors at Rendezvous--Advent of Missionaries--What Brought
Them-- Bonneville's account of the Nez Perces and
Flatheads--An Enthusiastic View of Their Characters--Origin of
some of Their Religious Observances--An Indian's Idea of a
God--Material Good Desired--Mistake of the Missionaries--First
Sermon in the Rocky Mountains--Interrupted by Buffaloes --
Precept and Example--Dr. Whitman's Character--The Missionaries
Separate--Dr. Whitman Returns to the States

Meek Falls into the Hands of Crows--The Story as He tells
It--He Packs Moccasins, and Bears the Jeers of the Fair
Sex--Bridger's Camp Discovered and the Lie Found out--A
Desperate Situation--Signaling the Horse-Guard--A Parley with
Bridger--Successful Strategy--Capture of Little-Gun--Meek Set
at Liberty with a New Name--A Fort Besieged by Bears--A Lazy
Trapper--The Decoy of the Delawares-- Winter Amusements--The
Ishmaelite of the Wilderness--March through the Crow
Country--Return to Green River--Punishment of the
Bannacks--Consolidation--An Excursion--Intercepted by Crows--A
Scattered Camp--The Escape

An Express from Fitzpatrick--The Approach of Missionaries
Announced--The Caravan Welcomed by a Party of Trappers--Noisy
Demonstrations--Curiosity of the Indians--The Missionary
Ladies--Preparations in the Indian Villages--Reception of the
Missionaries by the Nez Perces and Flatheads--Kind Treatment
from the Hudson's Bay Company-- The Missionaries' Land of
Promise--Visit to Fort Vancouver--Selection of Missionary
Stations

The Den of Rattlesnakes--The Old Frenchman--How to Keep Snakes
out of Bed--The Prairie Dog's Tenants at Will--Fight with
Blackfeet--Policy of War--A Duel Averted--A Run-away Bear --
Meek's Best Bear Fight--Winter Quarters on Powder River --
Robbing Bonneville's Men

A Dissipated Camp--A Crow Carousal--Picked Crows--A Fight with
Blackfeet--Manhead Killed--Night Visit to the Blackfoot
Village-- "Cooning a River--Stanley the Indian Painter --
Desperate Fight with Blackfeet--"The Trapper's Last Shot" --
War and Peace--In the Wrong Camp--To Rendezvous on Wind
River--Mr. Gray, and His Adventures--Massacre of Indian
Allies--Capt. Stuart Robbed by Crows -- Newell's Address to
the Chiefs

Decline of the Fur Trade--Wild Scenes at Rendezvous--A
Missionary Party--Entertained by a War Dance--Meek in
Armor--Deserted by his Indian Spouse--The Pursuit - Meek
abuses a Missionary and Kidnaps his Wife--Meek's Black Eyed
Daughter--Singing for a Biscuit--Trapping Again--A hot March,
and Fearfull Suffering from Thirst--The Old Flathead
Woman--Water at Last

A Chat about Buffalo Hunting--Buffalo Horses--The Start--The
Pursuit--The Charge--Tumbles--Horsemanship--The Glory of
Mountain Life--How a Nez Perce Village Hunts Buffalo--Kit
Carson and the Frenchman on a Run--Mountain Manners

The Solitary Trapper--A Jest--Among the Nez Perces--Their
Eagerness to be Taught--Meek is Called upon to Preach---He
modestly Complies--Asks for a Wife--Polygamy Defended--Meek
Gets a Wife--The Preacher's Salary--Surprised by Blackfeet --
Death of Allen--The Last Rendezvous--Anecdote of Shawnee
Jim--The new Wife Missing-- Meeting with Farnham--Cold and
Famine--Succor and Food--Parties at Fort Crockett--Setting up
in Trade--How Al. Saved His Bacon--Bad Times--War upon Horse
Thieves--In Search of Adventures--Green River Canyon--Running
Antelope--Gambling--Vain Hunt for Rendezvous-Reflections and
Half-Resolves--The last Trapping Expedition